ROCHESTER, N.Y. (Sept. 23, 2017) – Despite a team-high ten kills from freshman Courtney Gebhardt (Bloomingburg, N.Y./Pine Bush), the Mercy College volleyball team suffered a 3-0 (21-25, 23-25, 13-25) setback to ECC foe Roberts Wesleyan College on Saturday afternoon at the Voller Athletic Center.

The Mavericks (3-9, 0-2 ECC) drop their second straight match, while the Redhawks (1-15, 1-1 ECC) earn their first win of the season.

Gebhardt hit .154 and had two digs, while junior Brooke Runge (Closter, N.J./Northern Valley Demarest) finished with 22 assists and six kills. Junior Neysha Gonzalez (Aguadilla, Puerto Rico/Monroe College) contributed 11 digs and senior Sa'Naya Johnson (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) netted six kills.

Roberts Wesleyan was led by Kristina Button who had a match-high 11 kills.

The opening set saw the Redhawks jump out to a 10-4 lead early on. Roberts Wesleyan went on to build their lead to 19-11 before the Mavericks rallied with a 7-2 run to cut the deficit to three, 21-18. However, that would be the closest Mercy could get as the Redhawks took set one, 25-21.

The Mavericks jumped out to a 17-8 lead in set two and looked to be on the verge of tying up the match. Roberts Wesleyan had other plans as they responded with a 14-2 run to take a 22-19 lead, forcing a Mercy timeout. Out of the timeout, the Mavericks scored two straight points to make it 22-21, but the hosts closed out the set with three of the next four points to take a commanding 2-0 lead.

Roberts Wesleyan got off to a 10-7 start in the final set before going on a 10-1 run that increased their advantage to 20-8. The Redhawks led the rest of the way in securing the match.

Mercy hit .112 with 30 kills and 38 digs, while Roberts Wesleyan hit .276 with 41 kills and 41 digs.

Head Coach Georgia Efthalitsides and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, September 27th at Bridgeport at 7 p.m.